Offering a beacon of hope

Organization works to improve children's lives

MOSES LAKE - With the help of a community and determination, the lives of some children in Ukraine are much brighter.

Natalya Skala works with The World Light Foundation Non-Profit Corporation to establish centers providing shelter and care to abandoned children and children with HIV/AIDS. The centers do some work with mothers, Skala said.

An existing center is in the town of Vapnyarka in Ukraine and she and her family are moving to the country in October to focus more on working with children.

"We plan to open another children's center also because need is so huge there," she said.

Skala is joined by her daughters Victoria, 14, Julie, 16, and husband Anatoliy.

Recently Skala, with help from Job Corps students loaded a truck with donations from churches, hospitals and community members. She estimates 700 individual pieces at a weight of around 25,000 pounds.

"I think everything will fit," Skala said, checking her clipboard while overseeing the loading of linens, beds and clothing, among other items.

"It's not just our project. I'd like to thank all of the community," Skala said.

A hurdle toward the new center is jumped thanks to Skala's dedication, which secured a building to be for the center.

"To get this huge building, even though it was empty, I was working one year on the phone. I called every other day to Kiev, department of transportation, because building used to belong to this department," she said.

With the help of an attorney, the building was acquired.

The building, unused for some time is in need of an expensive renovation, Skala said, but they have someone willing to help.

"He was visiting our light house in Vapnyarka on the winter and he was very impressed with our work and our workers there so he really would like to step in," she said.

An advantage to living near the center, she said is logistical matters will be more easily handled in close proximity.

The centers are called Light House and Skala likens them to the way a light house's beacon offers safety to ships in the dark.

"In Ukraine it's so dark. Life is so hard for those kids and so our children's centers, it's like lighthouses for them where they can come and have caring and food and if there is a health issue we are taking care of them," she said.

Skala spoke proudly of one youth in particular who in two years, with the help of instructors, went through nine grades of education and is now studying social service at a college in the Vinnitsa region of Ukraine.

When the student returned to the Light House, he said there was no better place to be than home.

"To hear that it melts my heart, that kids call our children's center home," Skala said.

Anyone interested in making a donation can contact

Pastor Floyd Wilks, of the First Church of the Nazarene, said the truckload of donations is one of about seven sent annually.

His church is holding a goodbye party dinner Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. before the Skalas leave for Ukraine on Oct. 15.

Anyone interested in making a donation can contact the foundation at 509-771-1615.